Tomorrow (incident aside) I will be going to Blog On , the blogging conference in Manchester. 10 days ago I really thought I wouldn't be going and I was massively disappointed. I'm so looking forward to meeting all of those great writers and listening to the talks and talking to brands and that stuff I've heard about so many times. Childcare is a real issue for me, so I can't really travel to events, but this one is perfect. It would have been even more perfect if my partner had been able to give me a lift down and then go round MOSI all day with the kids, but with it being a not-prohibitively-expensive taxi ride home, and happening when I don't have school runs to do, I can still go. Yeeeay!


This is great, but I'm terrified! Hahaha....I'm sat here with butterflies. I've never done anything like this before, and with my blog only being a toddler, I feel like the new kid.

I do have the added worry that not only am I leaving 5 children at home, I'm also leaving my partner, who is still unable to take responsibility for the little 2 for more than a few minutes before it'll become too much, and can't be left alone for too long yet. The big 3 who are left have jobs and responsibilities. The 19yo has responsibility for the small boys. He needs to feed them and entertain them, and take them to the park if they get too rowdy. The 15yo sympathetic one has responsibility for temperature taking and making sure her Dad takes his tablets on time, eats lunch and gets plenty of fresh water and tea, and she's to text updates throughout the day. The 13yo has responsibility for making sure I don't return to a scene from Cat In The Hat (not the end scene, the bit just before that).

I hope when I get there I can forget home and just enjoy myself, and I hope when I return that any worries are misguided, but mostly I am very concerned that I'll cry. It's not been the best of fortnights really, weeny bit stressy and I've missed out on a couple or 30 hours sleep. I did try watching a sad movie earlier, just to let it all out, but I couldn't perform. I've seen a lot of people mention feeling very emotional already, this could turn into the end of a very cheesy chick flick if we aren't careful.

I'll be the one in big dark glasses...

I didn't post yesterday because I didn't really have anything to report, and I don't really today, I just don't want anyone thinking that it's all gone wrong. It hasn't, it's all going right.

His temperature is a lot more stable (in spite of the steaming hot weather) and his leg pain has eased off, although his head feels worse. He's no longer so bothered  about his Lumbar Puncture and the pain in his back. He hasn't slurred his words at all today, although he has slept a great deal over the last 2 days, so hopefully preventing him becoming over-tired will continue to solve that issue whenever possible.

We're all returning to a level of normality, having proper meals and the kids are getting into trouble for kid stuff again, rather than getting away with it. We're back up-to-date with the washing and the house looks almost habitable - well, as long as you don't go in the living room....

I have found this all very hard, I shan't lie. It can be a hell of a job looking after 6 or 7 children (depending who is here that day) any time, and after the elation of  Day 7 and the result we needed to hear, there had to be a dip. Yesterday I was really quite tearful at times and had absolutely no patience. So far he feels worst in the mornings and it's always a disappointment to wake up and find him not quite as good as he was the night before when I went to sleep. The kids all have their own issues and problems to deal with and the house needs to keep running. I had to remember who was going to school in non-uniform, and who needed lunch money for a school trip. It all seemed a bit too much yesterday.... Today though, I'm strong again. I even calmly chastised someone for driving along the pavement next to my 3 year old, rather than just getting quietly annoyed or very loudly angry....

I won't post every day, it'd bore the pants off you, but I'll continue to post whenever anything interesting happens. Fingers well and truly crossed that it doesn't get quite as exciting as last week ever again....

I was recently sent a 2.2l Round SlowCook Casserole by Pyrex and just haven't had the chance to use it yet. Someone pointed out to me that I was being daft. Who would want to stand over a hot hob in this weather when you can sling a load of ingredients into the slow cooker and practically forget about it? She had a point.


My Pyrex Caserole is made from cast iron with an enamelled coating,  so it can be used on any type of hob, in the oven and then put through the dishwasher afterwards. The lid has nodules on the underside so that the condensation drips are directed all over the food and it self-bastes. It's also a gorgeous bright red colour to match my Square Roaster

I have some sausages that are about to go out of date, so instead of just giving the children a hot dog or going to the trouble of a toad-in-the-hole dinner when my time is really tight at the moment, I decided a sausage and bean casserole was probably a better option. It might seem inappropriate for this weather, but in fact with some salad and crusty bread it works really well, and it makes a great supper if people choose to eat later.

Ingredients


2 onions
8 sausages
2 cloves Garlic

1 stick celery
2 peppers
chilli pepper
carrot
mushrooms
tinned tomatoes
passata

a selection of beans from the following:
adzuki beans
borlotti beans
butter beans
canned baked beans

oil for sauteing onions and browning sausages


Seasonings

salt and pepper
thyme
oregano
cumin
coriander
ginger
chilli powder or hot sauce

Use as much or little of the seasonings as you wish. I fully believe recipes are often there  to give us a start, but to be adapted to what suits. I split my casserole into 2 and used vegetarian sausages in half. To the meaty half I added 100ml of apple juice, which goes very well with pork and gives a more Mediterranean taste, and to the vegetarian half I added 100ml of white wine and an extra chopped red chilli, as all the vegetarians eating today like their food a little spicy.

Method

Put the sausages into the slow cooker and brown them on the hob in a little oil. Remove, cut into 2-3cm chunks and set aside.

Add a little extra oil to the slow cooker if necessary (especially if you used vegetarian sausages) and cook the onions and garlic over a low heat until soft.

Add the chopped vegetables, seasonings, beans and tomatoes, put the lid on and place in a low oven for 3 hours.


Stir and add the sausages. Add mushrooms now if you want them to have more bite in the finished meal. Cook for a further hour. If the casserole starts to dry out add some passata (tomato puree). Because I was cooking 2 different meals I split the food into half before adding the sausages.

Can you spot which is veggie and which is pork sausage?

If you don't have a slow cooker then you can cook this recipe on the hob in a pan over a low heat. I found the slow cooker to be excellent as I needed only one pan, reducing fuss and washing up. Being able to use one piece of  equipment to move from hob to oven was really handy and also meant my dish lost no flavour. I was able to carefully and easily regulate the level of liquid in my dish, and reheat a portion when someone came home late by heating on the hob. The Pyrex Slow Cooker that I used retails at around £35.

He really did, and it was a nasty one. And I was annoyed because he kept me awake...(shame on me).

Today however, one massively immense week later, we got our full Lumbar Puncture results and it was really good news. He had Viral Meningitis (the Bacteria just got in afterwards) caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, which also causes Chicken Pox and Shingles. It just managed to get into his brain, that's all...

This is the best result we possibly could have. It was exactly what his Doctor suspected from his initial results, and that was the basis for letting him come home. He's never been able to 'give' anyone else Meningitis, so we're all safe and sound. He's already been taking exactly the right medication for the last 3 days and we should be through the worst of it and into recovery. The Doctor said he's no need to return to Hospital, he's now under the care of his GP. He did take his bag to the hospital again hoping he wouldn't need it, It worked. Always pack a full hospital bag if you want to come home, it's obviously the charm.

We went home so incredibly elated, he even suggested we stop at Tesco on the way home to get milk and paracetamol - and he came into the shop with me. I added the ingredients to make Eton Mess for the children as a celebratory dessert, and he added a £5 super soaker water pistol that was on offer.

Typically he actually woke this morning feeling really ill, he had taken a backwards step. He was hot, red and feeling nauseous with a particularly bad head. Again I was pleased I already had a Hospital appointment at 2pm, but he did perk up a lot through the day anyway, and after noon started to cool down back towards his normal.

We arrived home from hospital just as the teenagers were coming in from school and he blasted them all with his super soaker. 5 minutes was his limit and he came in really happy, it was so lovely. He was knackered though and went to lie down. I organised tea, he ate and he's been asleep ever since. Bless him....20 minutes in Tesco and 5 minutes in the garden and he's shattered, but I think it was worth it....

We did think we'd be getting the full Lumbar Puncture results today, *sigh*. We WILL definitely be getting them tomorrow afternoon. We've been promised. I don't think I want to leave the Hospital tomorrow without them, although I'm not certain they'll tell us anything we don't already know from the first set of results, it's just become a thing we've waited for since Thursday morning..

After the lovely and incredibly informative comment on my blog post yesterday from Elizabeth I've felt a lot more calm about my partner's slight backwards step. I know that the Doctors warned us this would happen, and I do trust them mainly, but to get a message from someone who has been through it and come out the other side was really comforting.


He's doing really well. He's still not as happy as he was when he first came out of hospital because his back is very sore from the Lumbar Puncture and his legs are both very achy, plus the slicing pain in his right leg and the fact that the excitement about being allowed out has worn off, but he's doing well.

We've tried to explain as much as they wish to all the teenagers, but they can all use Google and I'm sure they've read some awful tales. They have all relaxed a lot, and no-one is walking about looking worried any more, they're all much more confident that he's going to be okay.As we've relaxed, so have they, it's a good thing. The little ones also know what's happened, and what needs to happen, but in language they can understand, I hope we did the right thing and they seem calm enough about it all - The good guys in Daddy's blood aren't strong enough to fight off the bad guys that got in, so he needs the Doctors to give him some more extra strong good guys that know just how to beat those bad guys. The bad guys and the fighting has made bumps and bruises inside Daddy's head, and until they get better he's going to have a poorly headache and needs you to be quiet and not squeal on the landing outside his bedroom (please!). They're more bothered about the tiny holes in his arms....he needed plasters and everything!

He can stay awake for about 3 hours now without suffering later, and noise isn't bothering him so much, which is making it a lot easier with 2 pre-schoolers and a couple of especially noisy teenagers, and it's also making it easier for him to nap. He has always been able to sleep anywhere at any time, but at the moment he's hypersensitive and things like the light from my mobile phone or our eldest having barely audible music playing when we've gone to bed are disturbing him.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that he's even ill, and then something happens and you remember. He moves and winces, or he slurs his words, or he'll suddenly be too tired and will have to go to sleep right then. He is being an excellent patient though. As long as I keep him well-stocked with fruit pastilles and water, and he hasn't lost the TV remote somewhere under the duvet, he isn't complaining at all.

I don't know if anyone is really reading this, but it's as good a diary as you could ever have, and as time seems to have taken on a life of it's own, I think I'll really appreciate having it to look back on.

We had a minor setback this morning. By the time my partner went to sleep he had an annoying stabby pain in one leg (although no loss of circulation, sensation or control), he slurred his words a couple of times when he was getting tired, he shook a little during the night and when I took his temperature at 7am he was a bit warmer than I'd like at 37.7.

I woke him not long afterwards and he said he felt more 'ill' than he had since he'd come home. Our check up at the hospital was at 9am anyway, so we were saved from having to make the decision to go in specially.

He was clearly in pain walking, and in a move that I'm really proud of him for, he packed a hospital bag to take with us. He was very upset when we left home, crying and kissing the children. When we arrived I got a 6 hour parking ticket, trying to insure against the worst.

The Doctor listened to all of his new and returned symptoms and then said a phrase I'm beginning to get used to "it's all perfectly normal....for someone with Meningitis". Thank heavens for that! I'm sure in that instant my partner gained a foot in height and lost about another stone - he'd lost 14lbs by the time he was weighed in hospital, but as a method of weight loss I wouldn't recommend it!

We were told he'd get various new pains and aches while the damage caused by the Meningitis repairs, and some of them might be fairly long lasting and not very nice. His temperature had gone back down and the slurring also did not bother her.  The next couple of weeks should see improvements and setbacks, but as long as it's all going the right way overall, we shouldn't worry too much, and if we are worried we can go in or ring any time. He also has the side effects from the Lumbar Puncture starting to take effect now, which are not necessarily limited to an incredibly sore back.

We went home elated, and the children were so happy to see him. The long goodbye had worried a couple of them. The rest of the day he dozed and slept a lot more than the previous day, and there was a real air of calm about the whole family.

While he had a sleep at teatime we went out to play with some neighbours and let everyone work off a lot of stress in the sunshine...

He's vicious I tell you!

Girl no.1 ~ NOT the water fight winner!

While we were out 2 neighbours came over to ask how he was and offer help, and when we went home my partner told me he'd woken up to the sound of his children laughing and squealing outside. Perfect.

Because my other half has been in hospital with Meningitis our children have had to fend for themselves, so they've mainly eaten beans on toast and frozen pizza for the last couple of days. Getting him home with us meant that I had the chance to cook a nice family meal that was full of fresh produce (thank goodness for online shopping!) and more preferable to anything he's been offered in hospital.


I was sent Mama's Family Cookbook by Parragon Books last week, and I've been itching to try out some of the recipes - before my partner became ill I had thankfully already placed an online shopping order, so I had all of the ingredients ready and waiting for the last couple of days. 

Last night for tea I tried out two of their pasta recipes. It took me 40 minutes to cook both recipes for the 8 of us who were at home, which is brilliant, I often spend far longer cooking and don't usually come out with such a delicious and popular meal.

 Roast Courgette Rigatoni 

This recipe uses roasted courgettes, fresh basil and mascarpone to give a creamy sauce with texture. It has subtle flavours that are appreciated by the whole family. My 4 year old thought this was delicious and had seconds, which is a rarity for him!

Creamy Chicken Penne

 Basic Pizza Dough

On the day of my Big Night In I'd intended to cook pizza anyway, so it was perfect timing to test their Basic Pizza Dough recipe and tips. It worked a treat - all of the pizzas had a really light base and well-risen edges which were really soft and tasty.



I'm really pleased with this book, the recipes are well laid out and simple to follow, the majority seem very easy and don't require a ridiculous amount of expensive ingredients. This is everyday family cooking and the 3 recipes I've tried so far have worked an absolute treat and every bit has been eaten. I'll definitely be making them again, and I already have the ingredients to try a few more of the recipes. The tips are a really good feature which really encourage a novice chef.

He's doing well, behaving himself and has stayed in bed all day.
He's a bit slurry when he's tired, but otherwise completely normal to talk to.
He's starving hungry.
He has stayed awake for longer periods and his temperature has stayed down.

If you haven't got a digital thermometer and are thinking of getting one, I'd recommend this.....

 We have been playing with it ALL day.....and I can even take his temperature at night when he's asleep!

We're getting there.... :)

When you have children (or a partner with Meningitis) you ask a lot from your washing machine, especially when they're tiny or ill. I've had to remove more bodily fluids from bedding than I'd ever like to remember, and it usually means a trip to a launderette or an hour spent leaning over the bath trying to stay at least a little bit dry while you attempt to clean something taller than you are. Then you have to work out how to get it downstairs without dripping 18 pints of water on the way, and if your bathroom doesn't have a large window overlooking the lawn that's not an easy task. What we really need is a duvet you can put in an ordinary washing machine at home and then tumble dry, with matching pillows which are also designed to be washed and rewashed - too good to be true?

I really was delighted to get asked if I wanted to review some of the range of Spundown Bedding from The Fine Bedding Company,  which is designed with washing in mind. It's made from polyester which is specially prepared to give a really light and thin duvet with the same heat retaining properties as a standard duvet. Because it has so little volume it fits easily in a standard washing machine, and can be washed at 60 degrees to kill off all the dust mites and remove allergens like pollen. There's no way I'm reviewing something that makes a claim like that without actually testing it properly....

When the bedding arrived I was really impressed, I've put a coffee mug in the photo so that you can see how little the duvet box was.


We put it on our bed and I was really pleased just how thin and lightweight the duvet was. Our old duvet was the same 4.5 tog, but about 3 times the thickness and weight, and definitely not as soft! The peachskin cover on the duvet is lovely, it's almost a shame to cover it, but you can still notice the difference through the cover (or maybe that's just my imagination).
 






We had the duvet and pillows on our bed for 10 days before I gave in and washed it. I was enjoying my new bedding so much I really was worried it wouldn't be the same afterwards....


I have a 7kg washing machine, which is a bit bigger than average, but not massive, and it fitted in very easily indeed. Good as my word I washed it at 60 degrees and then, on the hottest day of the year, I tumble dried it.

wet

Dry

There is absolutely no discernible difference. It looks and feels exactly the same as it did before I washed it. 

The pillows worried me more, I've washed pillows plenty of times and it generally goes horribly wrong. I can't say I've ever been happy with the outcome. They generally end up metamorphosising into a whole new shape of pyramid pillow with an extra twisty bit and some special big lumps that never go away, or the cover disintegrates into fluff. Neither happened.

Pillow 1: Lumpy Pyramid/Pillow 2: Spundown/Pillow 3: Cotton Wool

Not yet washed/Washed

After a simple shake the pillow really was no different from the unwashed one. After 3 more night's use (as this post was delayed) both pillows look and feel the same. You can't tell which has been washed and which hasn't, I'm really impressed. They're as plump as each other and neither have any uncomfortable lumps or bumps.

I'm really delighted with this bedding. It washes and dries every bit as well as it promises it will. It's lovely bedding anyway and it's been brilliant for my partner now that he has to have a couple of weeks bedrest because his skin is sensitive and it's light and easy to move about or fold out of the way. I know I can wash it every few days without having to write it off or put up with something vaguely resembling a pillow, and he'll be resting and recuperating in a clean and hygienic environment that is pleasant to be in. I'd recommend it to anyone, and I really do think it's very reasonably priced at £18 for a pillow and duvets starting at £45 for a double. They're excellent quality and brilliant for anyone with allergies. I've noticed a definite difference in my hayfever - 2 weeks ago I was waking up with  bunged runny nose and now I really am not. 

Updated 16/04/16 - the Spundown duvet is every bit as good as the day we got it. I still love the amazingly light weight - and it fits in a carrier bag to go on holiday!! I definitely recommend this product. 

Updated 11/06/17 - My thoughts from last year still stand. A fabulous duvet. Colette from Going On An Adventure has recently reviewed and you can find her video here.